About us

Landscapes and Soulscapes: A Camino Divina Adventure into the Divine” will help you explore in greater depth a richer, deeper relationship with the land, the self and the Divine. You will be provided with thoughtful and joyful practices that can help you connect more deeply wherever you find yourself, whether at home or abroad. Through the practice of “camino divina- walking the divine way”, inner and outer landscapes will be explored through intuitive observation and imagination, journaling, conversational partnering, finger labyrinths and walking meditation, accompanied by the words of poets and sages to walk alongside you.

"For one who teaches walking meditation, I wish I could make this lovely book required reading for all my students. Although it is equally good for anybody--walking or not--on how to see, how to sense, and how to savor. Walk with the saints-- and become one, it might just be saying!" - Richard Rohr, author The Naked Now: Learning to See as the Mystics See

"Luminous ... hooks us up with a passage of sacred poetry from an array of wisdom beings to light our way home to our true self, even as we walk with intense awareness on this earth."- Mirabai Starr, author Caravan of No Despair: A Memoir of Loss and Transformation

“Gina is an authentic leader, and her workshops are deep, beautiful and provocative. She creates a safe space for her groups and skillfully leads workshop participants into places of deep self-discovery . . .” –Stephen Picha, Event Recruiter, Ghost Ranch Retreat Center, NM

"When it's over, I want to say all my life
I was a bride married to amazement.
I was the bridegroom, taking the world into my arms.
. . .I don't want to end up simply having visited this world."
Mary Oliver

Event Highlights

Creating a Finger Labyrinth; taking home a sense of place and remembrance

Making Friends with the Landscape

An adventure Into Wonder - Walking Meditation

Celebrating the Elements/Honoring the Landscape- Creating a Nature Scape

Venue Highlights

Since 1948, Rolling Ridge Retreat and Conference Center has been a ministry of hospitality and spirituality of the New England United Methodist Conference, and open to diverse faith communities, not-for-profit organizations, schools, civic and corporate groups for meetings, events, and overnight retreats. Nestled on 38 acres overlooking Lake Cochichewick in North Andover, Massachusetts, Rolling Ridge is a perfect place for individuals and groups who seek a time of rest and reflection, and who desire peaceful surroundings for fellowship, planning, and learning.

Schedule

Landscapes and Soulscapes Schedule Highlights:

Where I’m From” Poetry Exercise- appreciating place in your life
Poetic Circle of Silence and Meditation: “Morning Poem” by Mary Oliver
Where is your “happy place” in the natural world and why?
The Land Between the Rivers – staying open to Wonder
The Labyrinth- Living a Moment in the Eternal Present
“The Joy of What is Found”- Wendell Berry
Creating a Finger Labyrinth; taking home a sense of place and remembrance
Making Friends with the Landscape
Centering Activity, Reading in the Round: “The Way to Start a Day”- Byrd Baylor
Taking it Further: Writing to Our Local Flora and Faunas
An adventure Into Wonder - Walking Meditation
The Scalloped Path: Group Reflections
Under the Dark Sky: storytelling, a camino divina “sit” session
Centering Activity: “On Wings of Light” breathing exercise; “The Seven Streams” by David Whyte - 15 minutes
Guided "What is Found Poem"
The Story of the Four Kingdoms
Celebrating the Elements/Honoring the Landscape- Creating a Nature Scape

About the
Venue and Teacher

Since 1948, Rolling Ridge Retreat and Conference Center has been a place for spiritual rest and renewal. Originally converted from a private home to a camp by the New England United Methodist Conference, Rolling Ridge is today the premiere Christian spiritual retreat center in New England and is among the top seven area wellness centers, according to Boston Magazine.Open to groups and individuals from all faith traditions and interests, "The Ridge" is a peaceful, beautiful and historic site offering hospitality and programs for the renewal of spirit and transformation of the world. Nestled on a peninsula surrounded by Lake Cochichewick in North Andover, Massachusetts, just 25 miles north of Boston, the 40 room Georgian estate on 38 acres of woods, rolling hills, and lakefront is the perfect setting for retreats and conferences, day meetings and personal retreats. Twenty-eight bedrooms accommodate 64 adults. Excellent, freshly prepared food in the Lakeside Gallery Dining Room, filled with original art by the Andovers Artists Guild, enhances your stay whether for one day or several. Two labyrinths, nature trails, and Ridge wellness provide opportunity for relaxation, recreation, and renewal. We invite you to visit and experience the beauty that is the Ridge.

Gina Marie Mammano is an award-winning poet and the author of Camino Divina- Walking the Divine Way: A Book of Moving Meditations with Likely and Unlikely Saints. Her training as a spiritual director, work as a retreat leader, Waldorf educator, Reiki practitioner, and work with the Opening the Book of Nature program have allowed her the ability to create interactive, artful, deep and intuitive events that work within both the interior and exterior landscapes. She lives on Whidbey Island, Washington.

Thank you!

Why Retreat?

We asked people why they go on retreat, here's what they said:

Embodied realization.
Kaycie

Retreat Guru's Vision

We believe human beings are innately wise, strong and kind. This wisdom, although not always experienced, is always present. Going on retreat is a beautiful way to reconnect to our basic sanity and health. Our aspiration at Retreat Guru is to inspire people to experience authentic retreats and reconnect with their innate wisdom, strength and kindness.